CUTN is Only University Offering Seven Unique Integrated Programmes: CUTN VC

Central University of Tamil Nadu's Vice-Chancellor Dr. M. Krishnan, in an exclusive interview with Shiksha.com, shared details about the new programmes introduced by the university, the student-to-faculty ratio, admission process, entrance examination accepted by the university, placement scenario. Read the highlights of the interview here….

Q. Central University of Tamil Nadu is among the top 100 universities as per NIRF ranking. What factors helped the university to achieve it?

Prof Krishnan: Central University of Tamil Nadu started in 2009. If you are coming to the NIRF, the last three years, consistently, we are ranking below the hundred. When we compare the recently started safety university in 2009, we are in the top ranking of NIRF ranking. Number one, the appointment of the faculty members. we are successful in appointing various teachers in this university for the last year. So, that gives us a good impression of the Central University of Tamil Nadu. 

Number two, we have representatives of the students from various states of India. Central University has a mini-India, where students mix, which is also an advantage. Then, if you are coming to that very important area, that is called a research publication. If you are seeing the last three years by focus data, we were in 48 in our hatchets, but now, we are in 74.

Also, perception is very important. Earlier, we had only a B++ in our NAAC grade, but now, we have an A+ by having the jump of 2.762 3.44, that is the very important thing there. Excellence in higher education and also, innovation in higher education are essential for society. We have the near above 4000 students on campus by have different fellowships from different states.

Q. How do you look at the journey of CUTN in the past decade owing to academics, infrastructure and co-curricular activities? 

Prof Krishnan: The first thing CUTN journey is going very well by academic infrastructure and co-curricular activities. Why because academics, we have 64 programs in this university. CUTN is the only university where we have seven integrated programs. In that one, the students are joining the first year and sitting together in the first year. And they can select their home interests or careers.

Second thing, if you are coming to that infrastructure, we are successful in getting the grant from the government of India. And from that, a regular grant, we have the program called FIST, the FIST program, where we can bring not only the infrastructure but also the setting edge research instruments. Also, curricular activities, if you are seeing the co-curricular activity, we have so many programs. We have the media department, where we are taking care of the students, which is very active in our university. And apart from that, we have NCC, NFS, and also that social activity. 

Q. Apart from the National-level entrance examination, does the university conduct its own entrance test for admission? 

Prof Krishnan: As I told the university is available in the rural area. So, sometimes students are afraid to enter into the CUET examinations. So, we are conducting a separate examination for students as per the university guidelines reservation, we are following that.

For PhD program also, we are conducting an entrance examination, other than the JRF, NET Examination, and JET Examination, we are selecting students from various parts of India by conducting our entrance examination for the PhD, by ranking and by looking for the specialization of the teacher, we are admitting the students.

Q. What courses attract students to the university? Is the curriculum as per National Education policy? 

Prof Krishnan: We are the number one university to follow the NEP 2020. We are following very strictly in our university. For example, if you are taking our chemistry department, that is the toughest department in our university. This is the department with all the sophisticated instruments in the department of chemistry. Second, I can say, the Department of Biotechnology, because the Department of Biotechnology, is recognized by the Department of Biotechnology of the Government of India, to select national-level students.

For the Humanities, we have a very good department in education, and also economics, where the students are admitted very highly. We also have a strong department in geology and geography, where almost all the sophisticated instruments available are wanted for the department is available.

Q. What diploma programmes are most popular at the university?

Prof Krishnan: We are also very keen to talk about the diploma program. Now, we have that diploma in archaeology. And also for the chemistry department, it is running that, the technician posted for the diploma, where almost all the students are getting the job when they are completing the BD diploma from our university, other than that, in the community college, we are running most of the diploma courses, under that all the rural students are getting benefits. The lab technician course, under fitness management physical education, is doing very well.

Q. What is the student-faculty ratio at the university?

Prof Krishnan: We are attracting a good number of students from different parts of India. If you are coming to that male-female ratio, the female students are occupying more in that central university of Tamil Nadu as it is a very good safety in this university. Also, we are maintaining a student-teacher ratio of 1:15. 

Q. Is the university planning to launch any new programme for the upcoming session? 

Prof Krishnan: Yes. The UGC approved several programmes for the university. One is pharmaceutical science, second one is regarding nutrition. Meanwhile, under that foreign language department, we are waiting for financial support. We are going to get 21 faculty members, to run these three programs

Q. How are the placements of the university? Does the placement cell help students with off-campus placements?

Prof Krishnan: 30 per cent of the students are going abroad for higher studies, the remaining 70 per cent are getting employment. LG, they are coming to our university, selecting the student for employment and giving the fellowship, for months they are getting 7000, second-year 8000, third-year 9000, and also when they are completing the course, they are ready to give the job with a salary of 50,000 per month.

Then there is a computer company called Texan, which is coming from the US, this company really looking for not only computer students at our university, they are selecting students from almost all the departments with a salary of 50,000 per month, they are giving assurance in the bond picture. 

Q. What initiatives is the university implementing to positively impact society?

Prof Krishnan: If you are coming to Central University of Tamil Nadu, there are about 75 villages around us, where they donated the land for that Central University of Tamil Nadu campus. We are giving or giving the facilities for good drinking water, and we are giving solar light for the students, and if the used computers are given back, to the elementary school, government elementary school

Then, very interestingly, we are giving attention to psychological programs not only for the student but also for the public. We have that permanent doctor, technician, and instrument. We are giving free medicine, and free treatment to the public and society.

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